Mission Critical: UO's Critical Mission

This week, we welcome students and faculty to campus to begin a new academic year at the University of Oregon. It’s one of the most beautiful campuses anywhere: the gracious buildings through which one can read the entire 137-year history of our campus, the lush arboretum that constitutes our grounds, and the remarkable setting in the Southern Willamette Valley. There’s a sense of timelessness on our campus that evokes the legacy of scholarship and inquiry to which our students and faculty contribute. It evokes the endurance of our mission as well—the broad access to top-tier higher education and the rigorous pursuit of knowledge and innovation.

Returning faculty and students will notice some striking changes to our university, a few obvious, others less so. We are in the midst of an unparalleled wave of construction on our campus. In the last few months, the UO has launched about $300 million in physical improvements in support of our core mission. These projects include renovations and classroom expansions at Straub and Earl Halls, a major expansion of our Student Recreation Center, and many other improvements, from seismic upgrades to new roofs. The Museum of Natural and Cultural History is expanding its space for exhibitions and collections, the Science Library Commons is getting an upgrade that will significantly enhance the learning environment for our students, and soon the long-awaited renovation of the Erb Memorial Union will begin. These improvements come on the heels of substantial projects concluded within the past year: The Global Scholars Hall, which integrates academic and residential space; the stunning renovation of Allen Hall, specifically designed for the emerging needs of 21st-century communicators; the Lewis Integrative Science Building, which draws the top scientists in the area to our interdisciplinary labs. And there’s the remarkable transformation of the north side of campus, with the opening of the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex and the attractive new access to Autzen Stadium.

These changes are easy to see. Less visible, but highly consequential for the future of this university, are some bold changes that will elevate the UO’s position among the finest research universities in the world and affirm our promise of access and excellence for the people of our state: changes in how the university is governed, how we will ensure that the UO continues to recruit and retain the best faculty, how we will meet our core mission of providing the highest quality educational experience to our students in an affordable way. Changes that promote student health and safety and help create the best possible environment for our faculty and staff to do the work they do so well.

This summer, a long-sought and greatly needed reform of our governance structure was passed by the legislature and signed into law. In this period of diminished state support and rapid change, this bold reform creates a local institutional board, enables additional methods of financing our infrastructure needs, increases efficiency and effectiveness, and assures our generous supporters that private funds intended for our academic mission will remain with the institution and not diminish other sources of revenue. Governor John Kitzhaber has appointed an outstanding 14-member public board for the university, and we look forward to their confirmation by the Senate so they can begin their important work.

At the heart of the university’s excellence are our outstanding faculty and staff. Recently, the university and United Academics, the union certified in April 2012 to represent many members of the UO faculty, reached tentative agreement on a contract, providing a needed step in aligning faculty compensation with that of our peer institutions, and underscoring the principles that are essential to a premiere research university. The Service Employees International Union, which represents many dedicated members of our staff, has reached tentative agreement on a new contract with the Oregon University System. I have immense respect for all university employees who have chosen to make their careers in the service of higher education. I look forward to continuing our important work together.

In the past year we recommitted to our obligation to ensure the UO is accessible to the best and brightest Oregon students, regardless of financial means. We have established two new merit-based scholarship programs, Apex and Summit. We’ve renovated our Pathway Oregon scholarship program, ensuring that academically qualified Pell Grant eligible Oregonians will have their University of Oregon tuition and fees paid with a combination of federal, state, and university funds.

We resolved the lengthy NCAA inquiry into recruiting infractions by the UO’s football program, with the NCAA agreeing that the violations were unintentional and imposing sanctions in keeping with those we self imposed. We also strengthened our compliance procedures to minimize the possibility of recurrence.

We begin classes this week in an environment of significant change—some clearly visible, some less so. Throughout, everything we do is directed with a singular focus toward a clear, noble purpose that remains unwavering: to enhance the quality of this great public university; support research, innovation, and discoveries that enlighten the world; and provide access to outstanding educational experiences to the citizens of Oregon.

An edited version of the above essay appeared as a guest commentary in the Sunday, September 29, 2013, edition of the Eugene Register-Guard under the headline "Efforts to enhance UO's quality are paying off."